Tyson Foods suspends plant operations

Tyson's Ford Avenue processing plant has stopped operating

Tyson Foods is suspending operations at its Ford Avenue processing plant in Springdale. A spokesperson for Tyson tells 40/29 News that approximately 60 employees worked there, but the changing demand for certain specialty products has forced the company to consolidate.

"I think businesses are always looking at ways to help their bottom line, any business in any field, and I think that's a smart thing to do," Springdale Mayor Doug Sprouse said. "This decision that Tyson is making shouldn't adversely affect our job numbers at all."

Sprouse says he found out about the consolidation on Friday morning, but he's happy to report no jobs will be lost.

"They're making some decisions internally to be more effective and more efficient, but it's not costing any jobs from everything I understand," Sprouse said.

On Friday afternoon, a Tyson spokesperson confirmed with 4029 that all of the hourly employees at the Ford Avenue plant are being offered permanent positions at other Tyson Foods locations in Northwest Arkansas.

"The important thing for me is they're doing everything they can to consolidate some things but also to put those people to work in other positions in other areas," Sprouse said.

The plant was once used by Tyson for research and development, but in recent years it's been used to make specialty products.

Tyson said they are not closing the plant, but the future of the facility is still unknown.

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